“At the beginning of the year, it was a tall order but as the year progressed and I proved I could play, I knew I could do it again.”

He came into the final day of the tournament – the last of four FedEx Cup play-off events – with a three-shot lead over Rose and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who faded from contention with a four-over 74 to finish on five under in tied seventh.

On Saturday, Woods, 42 looked in a class of his own as he carded a five-under-par 65 to leave himself on 12 under for the tournament at Atlanta’s East Lake course.

Woods had been a two-time former Tour Championship winner and now holds the record of winning 55 of 58 PGA Tour events when holding the 54-hole lead.

The 42-year-old returned to golf this season after missing most of the previous two years with a debilitating back injury. Justin Johnson was third with 7 under par.